Fatah: Exerting genuine effort for peace

Third Melbourne protest for the Palestinians of Gaza against the brutal attack by Israel (Photo: Takver/Flickr/CC BY-SA)

Peace in extensive, conflict–ridden parts of the globe entails considerable efforts among those involved in the conflict. The participants in the conflict would most often need to set aside differences, compromise certain goals and try to get along with deeply rooted enemies. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the various factions representing the Palestinians would need to deal with Israel and, in turn, Israel needs to deal with the Palestinians. This is not in terms of military action, but rather in an effort to resolve the conflict without force of arms as the tool for resolution.

What is Fatah?

Recently a major faction in the Palestinian side of the conflict indicated its support for efforts to establish a lasting, stable and viable peace between the disputing sides. Fatah, in fact, seems to be taking initiative to show Israel that it is sincere in its attempt to build peace. But what is Fatah exactly?

Fatah is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization. It is mainly nationalist, although not predominantly socialist. Its main goal is to complete liberation of Palestine and eradication of Zionist economic, political, military and cultural existence. However, despite its political inclinations and orientation, it openly supports reaching out to Israel in an effort to create peace.

An effort to end conflict

Fatah is generally considered to have had a strong involvement in revolutionary struggles in the past, and it has maintained a number of militant/terrorist groups. Unlike its rival, Islamic faction Hamas, Fatah is not currently regarded as a terrorist organization by any government. This makes it a viable party in any international effort to end the Israel-Palestine conflict. Organizations that collectively lead the Palestinians are part of why the conflict has not ended. They prove difficult to negotiate with and are usually keen on setting aside diplomacy for suicide-bombings and the like. If ever the fighting would stop, fundamentally there should be an internal effort to shift efforts, from armed means to diplomatic means.

This would create a ripple effect that would reverberate among the various factions of the Palestinian Organization and at least make them consider making peace with Israel. Israel actually is able to turn to negotiations rather easily in comparison to the Palestinians. But the idea is for genuine attempts to attain peace to come from, and be pursued simultaneously by, all parties in the conflict.

Fatah’s example to pursue peace

If differences will not be set aside over the course of the conflict, the opportunity for peace will dissolve little by little until none is left to build peace on — similar to how an installment loan can set aside an emergency bill so that one’s money does not dissolve completely. Moreover, conflicts like that of Israel and Palestine would likely spill out of or involve and entangle other countries. Notable in all of this is that Fatah, despite its inclinations, has put out an effort to set that aside and support the pursuit of peace. This not only assures Israel that negotiations are possible, but it also provides some comfort knowing that not all Palestinian factions are in favor of resolving the conflict via force.